Board game apparatus wherein pieces are advanced pivotally



Feb. 17, 1970 P; T. HE L 3,495,831

BOARD GAME APPARATUS WHEREIN PIECES ARE ADVANCED PIVOTALLY Filed May12,1967 s Sheets-Sheet 1' l/ 0000000000000 0e 0(00000o 00000000 x0000000 000000 00 0; 0000000 00000@ 00 0000000 0000000 0 0 I 00000000000000'U0- 0000000 0 0 000 000 0000000 0000000000000000000000000oo00000 000000000Q'0000000000000 000 00000/0, 0000000000000 000000 1 0 0 000000 052 o oo 00000 0 0 0 00000 00000 000 0000000000 00000000 0 000000000 INVENTOR. PA UL 7: HE A L Y I 72 BMATTORNEY Feb. 17,1970 v P. HEALY I, 3,4 1

BOARD GAME APPARATUS WHEREIN PIECES ARE ADVANCED PIVO'IALLY Filed May12, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet g INVENTOR. PA UL T H E A L Y ATTORNEY Feb. 17,1970 P.- T. HEALY 3,495,831

BOARD GAME APPARATUS WHEREIN PIECES ARE ADVANCED PIVOTALLY Filed May 12,1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 'JOOOOOOOOOOO'J OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOUOOOOOOOOOO CJOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOO O OO O O 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O o O O O O O O O O O O O O00 O00O00 O00 000 0 O O O O O O O O O O 0 O O O O O O O O O 'INVENTOR. PA UL THEAL Y A TTOR/Vf Y OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOC JOOOOOOO'OOOOOOOOOOO O OO 00 O0 O0 O0 O0 OO 00 O0 O0 O0 00 OO 00 O0 O0 000Q 0O 0 O0 O 0O 0O O0 O0 0O 00 V 00 O0 0O 0O 0O 0O 0O 0O 0O 0OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO United States Patent US. Cl. 273-131 9 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE A game apparatus comprising a board and twosets ofplaying pieces, the board having horizontal and vertical rows ofrecesses adapted to receive pegs depending from the playing pieces, eachpiece having a plurality of pegs spaced relative to the board recessesto permit pivotal movement of the piece to a position at right angles toor aligned with its original position, some pieces in each set havingpegs spaced the same distance as the openings in a horizontal orvertical row of recesses, while other pieces have pegs spaced the samedistance as offset openings in parallel rows, each set of pieces havingan object piece with radially extending legs each corresponding inconfiguration to a major portion of one of the other pieces, theremaining portions of said other pieces being shaped to lie within theoutline of the center part of said object piece when said other piecesare superimposed on said object piece.

This invention relates to games of the class in which players array setsof playing pieces in oppositing relation with the pieces being movedover a playing board to atack and defend against one another, and moreparticularly, to a new and novel game in which the movement of thevarious playing pieces is distinctive and board controlled.

The present game is distinguished by the playing pieces of each setdiffering in kind and capabilities of movement. In its preferredembodiment here described the movement of the pieces, whether defendingor attacking, are basically of a pivotal nature.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a new and novel gamewhich can be easily fabricated, is readily played, and lends itself toenjoyment by persons of all ages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game of the classdescribed in which playing positions of the pieces on the board arefunctions of their successive pivotal movements from immediatelypreceding positions.

Another object of the invention is to pro-vide a game of the classdescribed in which the board and pieces physically interact with oneanother to establish the playing pieces in playing position whilepermitting selective pivotal movement thereof from one playing positionto another.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game using a pluralityof like sets of playing pieces which are moved over a playing board,each set comprising pieces differentially constructed to provide, forexample, an object piece and attacking pieces which differentiallyrelate to the board in a manner to require that they have respectivelydifferent movements across the board.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game of a uniquenature utilizing a playing surface having an over-a1 pattern of pivotdefining locations for the respective playing pieces, which may bevariably positioned on and advanced across the board by movements Whichhave a basic pivotal nature.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a game of the classdescribed possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherentmeritorious characteristics, and the means and mode of operation hereinillustrated.

With the above and other incidental objects in view, as will more fullyappear in the specification, the invention consists of the features ofconstruction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode ofoperation as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one, butobviously not necessarily the only, form of embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a game board in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention having disposed thereon two sets of playingpieces for use by two opposing players, the optional limited directionof movement of the respectively different pieces being shown in phantom;

FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views of the respectively differentindividual pieces comprised in each set of playing pieces;

FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of a fragment of a board showing theattitude which one playing piece must assume to capture another in thecourse of the play;

FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 6 showing a pivotal position an attackingpiece must assume to capture an object piece; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a board set up for playing of the game by fourpersons.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

Referring to the drawings, a game board in accordance With a preferredembodiment of the invention consists of a flat surfaced member 10 whichmay be made of a variety of inexpensive materials, for example, fiberboard, paper, or plastic. If desired, the board may be provided withfold lines to enable a more compact storage thereof in a game box.

In the illustrated instance, the board 10 has a playing surface 11 whichis a square-shaped playing area. This area presents a pattern of pivotlocations adapted to interrelate with the playing pieces and controltheir positions and movements in the course of the game. In this case,the game board 10 is shown as a peg board within the bounds of whichpivot locations are defined by a rectangular pattern of holes 12. Theholes 12 are arranged in parallel rows in both longitudinal andtransverse senses. The holes are preferably equidistantly spaced in bothlongitudinal and transverse senses and the diagonal spacing between theholes in adjacent rows is greater than the linear spacing of the holesin either sense.

Within the concept of a movement controlling interrelation between theplaying surface of the game board and the playing pieces characterizingthe invention, the pieces may assume varying configurations and may varyin number to suit the version of the game to be played. In the examplehere described, the pieces are provided in sets of seven. Referring toFIG. 1 of the drawings, which indicates the game set up for two players,two sets of playing pieces are arranged in opposed relation. Each set iscomprised of a main or object piece 13 and two each of attacking pieces14, 15 and 16. As seen in FIGS. 2 through 5 of the drawings, the bodiesof the playing pieces are formed of segments of sheet material such asplastic, for example. Multiple pivot pegs are fixed to depend from eachsegment, each peg portion being circular in cross section and of a sizeto plug into one of the holes 12 in the playing surface 11. The pegs aredimensioned to provide a stable mount of each playing piece on the boardsurface and to have a. sufiicient length to space the body of the piecesomewhat above the playing surface so that it may be readily grasped forremoval or repositioning, as required in the course of the game.

The object piece 13 has a central body portion 17 from which project acircumferentially arranged series of equidistantly spaced radial fingers18 through 25. A peg, as described, depends from each finger, near theouter end thereof. The pegs are respectively identified as 18a through25a. In general, playing piece 13 has a cruciform configuration, beingmade up of superposed crosslike shapes. Legs 18, 20', 22 and 24 define aGreek cross. In effect, superposed on this is an oblique cross in theform of the letter X defined by legs 19, 21, 23 and 25. In mounting thepiece 13 to the playing surface, locating the vertical beam of the Greekcross in alignment with a longitudinal row of holes 12 causes thehorizontal beam thereof to be aligned with a transverse row of holes 12.Similarly, as is obvious from the drawings, the oblique cross is alignedwith what might be considered intersecting diagonal rows inherentlyformed by the rectangularly intersecting pattern of the rows of holes12. Thus, the spacing between the pegs 18a and 22a on the vertical beamand between the pegs 20a and 24a of the horizontal beam is a precisemultiple of the spacing between the holes 12 in a longitudinal ortransverse row. Similarly, pegs 19a and 23a and pegs 21a and 25a arespaced apart a precise multiple of the instance between adjacentdiagonally related holes. As a result, the object piece 13 may assume abase playing position as indicated in FIG. 1 therein all of its pegs arereceived in holes 12 of the playing surface 11 to thereby fix the pieceto the playing surface of the game board. Playing piece 14 has aL-shape, being formed of legs 26 and 27 at right angles to one another,the leg 27 being somewhat longer than the leg 26. The remote extremitiesof the legs respectively mount dependent pegs 26a and 27a. At theirpoint of intersection, a third peg 28 depends to define with the pegs26a and 27a a right angle. The spacings of the pegs on piece 14 againcorrespond to multiples of the spacing between adjacent rows of holes12. The piece 14 therefore assumes a playing position on the board inwhich the legs 26 and 27 are respectively aligned with one of thetransverse rows and with one of the longitrdinally extending rows ofholes 12. It will be observed that the legs 26 and 27 have a positionand peg spacing rendered them incapable of being anchored to the boardin positions identifying diagonally oriented rows of holes.

The playing piece 15 has a narrow, generally rectangular, elongateconfiguration. Depending from its opposite ends are pegs 29a and 31a.The latter pegs are aligned and spaced to permit their being pluggedinto diagonally related holes 12 while inhibiting their being plugged toalign with a longitudinally or transversely extending row of holes.Accordingly, the playing piece 15 is limited to an oblique playingposition in all of its movements across the game board.

Playing piece 16 is shaped like the piece 15 but is longer. Dependingfrom the respective ends of the piece 16 are pegs 32a and 33a. The pegsare longitudinally aligned, but the spacing therebetween is a multipleof the linear spacing between adjacent holes 12 in either alongitudinally extending row or a transversely extending row. Thus, inuse the piece 16 is required to assume an attitude of alignment witheither a longitudinal or transverse row of holes '12.

In the example illustrated the holes 12 provide locations in which thepegs of the playing pieces may be anchored to the board 10. It should beobvious that each piece, therefore, has an available pivotalinterrelation with the playing surface 11 at the location of each of itsdependent pegs. Moreover, the relation of the pieces to the game boardis such as to permit a ready manual displacement and repositioning ofthe playing pieces. It is a feature of the invention that the playingpieces are repositioned or moved across the board by a pivotal actionabout one of its pegs. In the example shown, this may be accomplished bylifting a playing piece to disengage all but a selected peg from theplaying surface and then swinging the piece in a pivotal motion aboutthe selected peg to achieve a new playing position in which the pegs ofthe piece may all anchor in holes 12. Accordingly, the new playingposition will be a function of the described pivotal motion. However, itis cautioned that such new position is also subject to the spacing ofthe pegs on the piece moved. For example, playing piece 16 can be liftedand turned about either peg 32a or 33a. Although capable of 360 ofmotion in thus moving, the piece may be relocated in a new position onlyat right angles to or in alignment with its original position. This isdiagrammatically shown in FIG. 1 wherein are illustrated severalcharacteristic positions the playing pieces may assume when pivoted fromone position toa succeeding playing position. Similarly, a playing piece15 could be pivoted 360 about either peg 29a or 31a. However, the piecemust be moved less than 360, and by reason of the spacing of these pegs,the piece may be reseated to the board 10 only at a right angle to or inalignment with its original position. The playing piece 15 may thereforeonly assume positions of an oblique nature.

The piece 14 has a greater scope of movement, being pivotal about anyone of the three pegs 26a, 27a and 28. The spacing between aligned pegscorresponding to or being a multiple of the longitudinal and transversespacing between the holes 12, however, the piece 14 is limited tomovement to positions other than oblique positions.

The playing piece 13 embodies in its cruciform shape the configurationsand relative dispositions of the attacking pieces 14, 15 and 16,although not the identical peg arrangement. It is pivotal about any oneof its pegs 18a through 25a and the combination of oblique, vertical andhorizontal legs forces its movements to be limited to multiples of arotation, the several pegs being unable to simultaneously seatthemselves in holes 12 in response to a motion less than 90. Beingsymmetrical, the attitude of the piece 13 is the same in all playingpositions.

The game components lend themselves to play in various ways. Accordingto one method of play, the piece 13, which is in effect a parent piecefrom which the attacking pieces are derived, is an object piece, thecapture of which by an opposing player is the objective of the game. Inthis manner of play the object piece 13 is stationed near a longitudinalextremity of the playing surface and centered intermediate its sideedges, as seen in the drawings. Attacking pieces 14, 15 and 16 arearrayed in a line of defense in advance of the object piece 13,duplicate attacking pieces being in transversely aligned groups toeither side of the object piece.

Assuming the game to be for two players, a second set of playing pieces13, 14, 15 and 16 is similarly arrayed along the opposite end of theplaying surface, in opposition to the first set. See FIG. 1 for thisarrangement. The order of movement of the pieces may be suitablydetermined as by a throw of dice, or the spinning of a wheel, or theplayers may simply alternate with one another in moving any selectedpiece. Moves, as heretofore seen, are in the form of steps which are afunction of a pivotal movement of the piece. Pieces may moveunrestrictedly over the playing surface, limited only by rules of theparticular version of the game as to order of play and by therequirements imposed by the spacing of the pegs on individual pieces.Thus, pieces 15 are freely movable only to oblique positions upon theplaying surface, each succeeding position including a portion of thepreceding position defined by the peg used as the pivot in the movementof the piece. Similarly, pieces 16 are limited to positions in a senselongitudinally or transversely of the game board.

In the play of the game, the object is to achieve, by a pivotal motionof one of the playing pieces, an overlapping or bridging relation to apiece from the set of an opposing player. When this is achieved, thepiece overlapped is removed from the board. It is to be understood,however, that the repositioning of a players piece is limited in thepreferred form of the game in that it may not be relocated if any of theholes necessary for its relocation and anchoring thereof to the boardare occupied or blocked by another piece of the same player.

- While in capturing attacking pieces 14, 15 and 16 it is merelynecessary to overlap a hole location thereunder or to bridge the piece,it is different in the case of achieving a capture of the object piece13. It is necessary for capture of the latter that the attacking pieceoverlie at least two hole locations beneath the object piece before theobject piece can be considered captured. Of course, if the playersmutually agree, this limitation may be modified. The object piece can,of course, in the preferred version, defend itself by moving inattacking or withdrawing senses relative to opponent pieces.

As indicated, to determine the order of play dice or spinner means maybe employed, with the playing pieces being given numbers correspondingto those on the dice or spinner means. Thus, a throw of the dice turningup a number corresponding to the number of one of the playing pieces mayrequire the player throwing the dice to move the playing piece soidentified. The turning up of numbers not corresponding to any of theplaying pieces may be used to give the player an optional move or mayrequire him to pass a turn.

In a variation of the game which may be played without dice or spinnermeans each player may move in turn. In such case, he must make a moveeach turn but may select any playing piece for movement.

From the preceding, it may be seen that the concept of the game isbasically simple but stimulating. Moreover, the play of the game may beflexibly interpreted to achieve a great number of play versions, some ofwhich have been illustratively presented. In any instance, it should beobvious the game may be readily adapted for play by persons of all ages.

FIG. 8 of the drawings illustrates a game board set up for play by four.In such case, the sets of playing pieces are respectievly arranged alongthe respective sides of the board and each player will play to his ownadvantage. The players maneuver their playing pieces in an effort tocapture the object pieces of the opponents. The play of the game may bethe same as when played by two, except that two players may cooperate inthis instance in capturing the object piece of a third player where therules required an overlap of two holes beneath the object piece for itscapture. Thus, should one player succeed in placing one of his attackingpieces in an overlapping relation to one hole location beneath theobject piece of another player, such object piece will be deemedcaptured if still another player proceeds to place one of his attackingpieces over a single hole location underlying the same object Piece. Aspreviously indicated, the players whose object pieces are captured mustwithdraw from the game and their remaining attacking pieces are removedfrom the board.

It will be evident that other variations of play are possible, as forexample one in which the object piece remains stationary, leaving theburden of defense and attack solely upon the other pieces of the sameset. Further, the playing pieces have been here described as identifiedby number, but they may be otherwise identified, as by names appropriateto the character and nature of the game rules.

In any instance, particular note is directed to the corners of theprojected portions of each of the playing pieces. It will be observedthat such corners have been contoured to oblique form so they may bejuxtapositioned on the board in adjacent rows without interferencetherebetween.

In the example illustrated the board has been identified as having holes12 providing sockets for anchoring the pegs of the playing pieces. Itshould be obvious that the socket and peg relation may be reversed withthe board mounting the pegs and the playing pieces having sockets.Moreover, instead of the board having sockets or pegs, other means maybe used to identify the pivot locations about which pivoting may beachieved in play of the game. Therefore, it will be clear that theinterrelation or interaction between the board and the playing pieces,which is to be basically of a pivotal nature, is contemplated as beingachieved in any selected manner which lends itself to the economical andeffective production and use of the game.

Applicant has attempted to present the game herein disclosed in a clearillustrative fashion and by way of various examples. It is to beunderstood, however, that in no event are the procedures and rules ofthe game as specifically herein suggested to be construed as limitingthe nature and scope of the invention.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A game apparatus comprising a board having a playing surface withpivot locations arranged in vertical and horizontal rows, and playingpieces for arrangement thereon in opposing relation and characterized bymeans defining pivot portions, said playing surface at said pivotlocations having portions interengaging with said pivot portions of saidplaying pieces to provide a physical base for the effecting ofsuccessive pivotal steps, players of the game having sets of playingpieces arrayed against one another, each set comprising a multiplelegged object piece superposable over a plurality of pivot locations onthe playing surface and having multiple engagement through pivotportions on said legs with pivot locations in spaced rows, the objectpiece being pivotal about any selected leg to other selected positionsaligned with or at right angles to the first, each set of playing piecesfurther comprising attacking pieces disposed in protective relation tothe object piece, certain attacking pieces having pivot portionsdisposed to be capable only of bridging pivot locations in the same rowor corresponding locations in parallel rows and certain other attackingpieces having pivot portions disposed to be capable only of bridginglongitudinally ofi'set pivot locations of parallel rows whereby thepositions assumed by said certain attacking pieces are always verticalor horizontal whereas the positions assumed by said certain other piecesare always oblique with respect to the rows of pivot locations, saidobject piece having a central body portion and said legs extendingradially therefrom and including legs vertically and horizontallydisposed relative to parallel rows of pivot locations and legs inclinedrelatively to said rows, the attacking pieces having configurationsallowing them to assume positions overlapping two of the pivot locationsoverlaid by the object piece.

2. A gameapparatus comprising a board having a playing surface andplaying pieces for arrangement thereon in opposing relationcharacterized by means defining pivot portions on said playing piecesand pivot locations on said board for movement of pieces across theboard in successive pivotal steps to assume different playing positionsin the course of the game, said playing surface having at said pivotlocations portions interengaging with said pivot portions of saidplaying pieces to provide a physical base for the effecting of saidpivotal steps, said playing pieces including at least one set comprisinga parent piece of cruciform configuration formed of superposed Greek andoblique crosses and related pieces each having a form the major part ofwhich is the same as the form of one of the radially extending parts ofthe parent piece, the pivot portions on each related piece coacting withthe surface portions at said pivot locations to cause the piece toassume the same orientation on the playing surface as that of thecorresponding part of the parent piece.

3. A game apparatus comprising a board including means defining parallelrows of pivot stations and playing pieces for arrangement thereon,characterized by means defining pivot portions on said pieces physicallyinterfitting with said pivot stations on said board, said pivot stationsfunctioning to control movement of said pieces across said board insuccessive pivotal steps whereby to asume different playing poitions inthe course of the game, sets of playing pieces being arrayed againt oneanother, each set comprising an object piece formed to be superposedover a plurality of pivot stations on the board surface, and attackingand defendin pieces of diiferent form, said object piece including aplurality of pivot portions defining lines which are angularly relatedto each other, said object piece being pivotable about any selectedpivot portion to other positions in which its pivot portions are eachpositioned over a pivot station, certain pieces of each set having theirpivot portions spaced to engage pivot stations along lines parallel withor at right angles to certain of said angularly related lines, andcertain other pieces of each set havin their pivot portions spaced toengage pivot stations along lines parallel with or at right angles toothers of said angularly related lines.

4. A game apparatus comprising a game board having a playing surfacewith formations thereon providing a pattern of pivot locations, andplaying pieces for movement thereover, each of said playing pieceshaving a plurality of selectively usable pivot portions thereonphysical- 1y interfitting with said formations, enabling movement ofsaid pieces across said board in successive pivotal steps whereby toassume difierent playing positions in the course of the game, saidplaying pieces including at least one object piece and a plurality ofother pieces diifering in form, said object piece being a unitaryelement made up of differential superposed shapes corresponding to orembodying the shapes of radially extending, circumfcrentially spacedportions, each corresponding in form to a major part of one of saidother pieces, the remainder of each of said other pieces lying Withinthe outline of said object piece at the center thereof when the otherpiece is superposed on said object piece.

5. game apparatus as in claim 4 characterized by said other playingpieces being composed of different unitary shapes respectively havingdifferently arranged pivot means the spacing of which in relation to thespacing of the pivot locations on the board differentially deterrninesthe positions which they may assume in relation to said board.

6. A game apparatus as in claim 5 wherein certain types of pieces havetheir pivot portions arranged in a linear orientation and others havetheir pivot portions arranged in an angular configuration.

7. A game apparatus as in claim 5 wherein at least one type of saidother playing pieces includes at least three pivots about any one ofwhich the piece may be pivoted in its successive movements across theboard.

8. A game apparatus as in claim 4 characterized by said object piecehaving dependent from each radially extending portion a pivot portionconstituting one of said interfitting pivot portions.

9. A game apparatus as in claim 8 wherein others of said picces includerespectively a right angled body portion and a linear body portion, ineach of which the pivot portions depend in a difierent arrangement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 795,822 8/190-5 Darius. 2,199,7195/1940 Brothers 273136 3,376,042 4/1968 Dunlap et al 273 FOREIGN PATENTS583,178 8/1933 Germany.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 273134, 137

